Brazil's Football Leaders Confirm Attendance at Soccerex Global Convention

Soccerex is delighted to announce that following an official invite from visiting senior Soccerex delegates the Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) President and FIFA Executive Committee member, Marco Polo Del Nero will be attending the Soccerex Global Convention alongside the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President and 2014 LOC Chairman, José Maria Marin, who will be speaking at the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, 24-28 November 2012.

José Maria Marin is the former governor of São Paulo and previously president of the FPF. He was the Vice President of the CBF representing the South Eastern region from 2008-2012 before becoming CBF president in March 2012, in the same month he was named Chairman of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Organising Committee. Marco Polo Del Nero became president of the FPF in 2003 with a clear aim of strengthening the relationship between league clubs and the State of São Paulo. In 2007 he was inducted as a member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of South American Football. Most recently he was appointed to the FIFA Executive Committee as one of only three South American representatives and became Vice President of the CBF representing the South Eastern region.

Speaking on his involvement at Soccerex, CBF President and 2014 LOC Chairman, José Maria Marin said: “I am excited to be participating in the opening ceremony of my first Soccerex event, and look forward to exploring a Convention that has already made such a significant impact on our football business. It is a very important moment in our sporting history and events like this will help Brazil to lay the foundations for an excellent World Cup.”

Commenting on the announcement, Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said: “I am so pleased that these two senior figure heads in Brazilian Football have accepted our invitation to the Soccerex Global Convention in Rio de Janeiro. Mr Marin and Mr Del Nero are vital for the development and success of football in Brazil and the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. Their attendance at the Convention is a huge honour for us and confirms the event as the world’s leading football business event.”

The Soccerex Global Convention is a five day business event consisting of a comprehensive seminar line-up, a number of networking opportunities, a two-day football festival and a packed exhibition which is already close to selling out.

Held in a purpose-built venue within the Forte de Copacabana, with panoramic views of both the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the exhibition is a hub for business activity; as one of the main components of the convention it provides a platform for leading suppliers from around the world to showcase the latest industry products and services to delegates.

Originally appeared here

Brazil 2014 World Cup preparations on track say organisers

In less than one year Brazil will play to host to the Confederations Cup football tournament, the traditional warm-up event for the World Cup, which will take place in the country in 2014.

By next June organisers need to have six stadiums ready for the two-week event, as well as the surrounding infrastructure and communications network in place.

There have been some voices of criticism about the preparations, including from former football legend Romario, a 1994 World Cup winner-turned-politician.

But the man in charge of delivering the two events is confident that everything is on track.

"We are really in a good position, we are moving forward well - I am talking not only about the World Cup, but also the Confederations Cup next year," says Ricardo Trade, operations director of the 2014 World Cup local organising committee.

We want to show that our country can receive far more visitors than it does at present”

"We are closely monitoring how work is progressing in the stadiums in the 12 [World Cup host] cities; and we are very confident about the work programme in these cities.

"We are also closely liaising with Fifa, as they are helping us to build these stadiums for the two events, and producing constant feedback and monitoring reports on progress so far."

Mr Trade - who estimates the World Cup will inject 112.8bn reais (£36bn; $56bn) into the Brazilian economy by 2014 - says city, state, and, increasingly, federal authorities, are also working closely with event organisers.

"They are all working to improve the infrastructure of our cities and of our country for the World Cup and Confederations Cup," he said.

"It is not our role, but we are monitoring the infrastructure progress in each city, as well as at the stadiums".

Mr Trade estimates that some 22.4bn reais (£7bn: $11bn) is being invested in World Cup infrastructure projects, such as the stadiums, roads, airports and public transport.

Ricardo Trade, operations director of the 2014 World Cup local organising committee Mr Trade says there is constant scrutiny of the stadium development programme

On the actual running of the World Cup, he is also in frequent talks with Fifa and the operators of the 12 stadiums "to ensure that this complex structure functions correctly".

Mr Trade is looking to establish common policy across the dozen venues in the areas of hospitality, medical services, marketing, the press, TV, security, accreditation, technology, transport, logistics and cleaning.

The organisers' relationship with Fifa in the past has been somewhat rocky, with the world football governing body having raised concerns about delays in stadium renovation.

           

WORLD CUP 2014 VENUES

    Belo Horizonte (CC 2013)

    Brasilia (CC 2013)

    Cuiaba

    Curitiba

    Fortaleza (CC 2013)

    Manaus

    Natal

    Porto Alegre

    Recife (CC 2013)

    Rio de Janeiro (CC 2013)

    Salvador (CC 2013)

    Sao Paulo

However, last month Fifa sounded more emollient when it reported on the progress of work in the stadiums, the roads, and the airports.

"There is still a lot to do but we are on the good track, and there are currently no stadiums in the red," said Fifa.

One continued infrastructure worry though is the state of progress on upgrading Brazil's airport network, essential in such a large country and one where there is no established rail network.

Of 13 terminals being upgraded, 10 are unlikely to be completed by June 2014, a government-backed Institute for Applied Economic Research report said this spring.

"As I mentioned, this is not our responsibility, but we are confident they will be ready on time," asserts Mr Trade.

Meanwhile, World Cup legend Romario has criticised the finances around the tournament, and also questioned whether the capital Brasilia needs such a huge, 75,000 seater stadium.

The former forward, now a member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, says the arena will never see a big football game again after 2014.

Romario in action for Brazil in the 1994 World Cup final Romario has been asking questions about the staging of the World Cup

"It is not my position to talk about Romario, he is a very important guy," says Mr Trade.

However, he says that a lot of "good stadiums" have been built in Brazil that were not used only for football, but for other sports and activities too.

"Maybe that is the solution they will use here," Mr Trade says.

And he insists that organisers are "not going to abandon stadiums" after the World Cup, but that they will be taken over by operating companies after the 2014 event.

In Rio, where the finals of both the Confederations Cup and World Cup will be hosted, he says there is the "challenge" of renovating the iconic Maracana stadium, "a major part of the country's football heritage".

'Not just Rio and Sao Paulo'

At another World Cup host city, Belo Horizonte, they are digesting the lessons learnt on a recent visit to study the operations of the London Olympics.

"I was very impressed by the work of the volunteers," says the city's World Cup executive co-ordinator Flavia Rohlfs.

Flavia Rohlfs of the Belo Horizonte World Cup organising committee Flavia Rohlfs has been in London to study how the Olympic Games operated

"They were everywhere and I liked the way they were constantly asking people if they were OK."

The city has not posed any problems for Fifa when it comes to the preparation of their stadium, and Ms Rohlfs says work is also progressing well on transport preparations.

A three-line bus rapid transit (BRT) system is being build, and two new roads.

The city's main international airport is being upgraded to handle more passengers, as is the secondary airport in order to handle more charter and domestic passengers.

And Mr Trade says that tourism across the entire country can flourish during the World Cup

"We want to show that our country can receive far more visitors than it does at present," he says.

"We want people to visit not just Rio and Sao Paulo, but all 12 cities."

Original article:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19255581

Brazil Sambas Into Olympian Joys, Challenges

It’s time to develop a taste for caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail, and to learn how to samba. Unless you are an Olympic athlete, that’s most of what you need to know to prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games, which on Friday were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

For the first time, the International Olympic Committee has chosen a South American city to host the Olympics.

Rio’s victory over richer, more developed places -- Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid -- continues a welcome trend of acknowledging the growing importance of developing countries. The World Cup next year will be hosted by South Africa and in 2014 it will be held in Brazil.

The IOC’s choice sent an emotional jolt through the country. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s charismatic president who enjoys an 81 percent approval rating and who worked hard to support Rio’s bid, cried when the vote was announced. Some 30,000 people celebrated on Copacabana Beach.

The games present a tremendous opportunity for Brazil. The Olympics will give Brazilians a huge shot of self-confidence and boost the country’s tourism industry and Rio’s public transportation system. It’s also an opportunity to counter the violent imagery of drug lords, gang murders and grinding poverty realistically captured in films such as “City of God” (2002). Those scenes have replaced postcard images of beaches and mountains that used to seduce people around the world.

Military Maneuvers

It would be a mistake to skip a trip to the 2016 Games due to concerns about safety. Rio has hosted large international gatherings such as the 1992 Earth Summit and the 2007 Pan American Games. When the world’s attention is on them, Brazilians don’t take chances. During these types of events, law enforcement is shifted from the local police, who don’t exactly enjoy a reputation for moral rectitude.

Instead, Brazil’s military runs security, sporting assault weapons and tanks. If you think Rio’s drug kingpins are crazy enough to conduct business as usual under those conditions, think again.

It’s worth noting also that Rio hasn’t been subject to terrorist attacks like those that sadly hit Madrid and London, where the 2012 Olympics will be held.

Challenges Abound

The greatest challenge for Rio and Brazil probably isn’t the Olympics itself, but its aftermath. Is the country capable of doing anything to improve the life of millions of slum kids living in Rio’s favelas, which climb the mountainsides just blocks away from fashionable neighborhoods like Ipanema? Besides making a few extra bucks by juggling tennis balls at busy intersections, will their lives change dramatically because of this event? Probably not.

Regardless of which city hosts the Olympics, some things are certain.

The event will cost three times more than originally budgeted. The estimated cost of the 2016 games is 25.9 billion reais ($14.5 billion). Still, lack of money won’t be an issue. Brazil’s monetary authority can simply print more money if necessary. That’s no different from what the world’s developed nations are doing.

Architectural white elephants will dot the landscape. Stadiums, gymnasiums, cycling centers, athlete dorms and so much more infrastructure will be little-used eyesores as soon as the closing ceremony concludes.

Athletes may take home medals, but politicians and politically connected business people are the ones who really achieve success at any Olympics.

Collective Society

Finally, don’t expect Brazil to experience a home court advantage and win buckets of gold medals.

Brazilians aren’t a greedy bunch and they are always happy to please foreigners.

Medal counts tend to favor individual performances, like the ones U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps gave on his way to winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

Brazil is too much of a collective society to cultivate stars who excel as lone performers in events like swimming and gymnastics. Brazil’s strengths are team sports like soccer, volleyball and basketball.

It is rare to see a Brazilian athlete turn to the camera, pound his chest and say he’s competing to win gold, such as swimmer Cesar Cielo Filho did before breaking the world record in the 100-meter freestyle last July in Rome. Perhaps Cielo will teach other Brazilian athletes, especially those who don’t have the opportunity to practice in the U.S. as he does, to do the same.

That might be the most important legacy of Rio’s 2016 party.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aa0KLdK_V0Xg

To contact the writer of this column: Alexandre Marinis in Sao Paulo at amarinis1@bloomberg.net

Sport spectaculars could also draw investors to Brazil

Emerging markets are not everyone's cup of tea. There's something to be said for staying at home and investing in companies that matter in our everyday lives. It's a safe and steady approach and investment managers have a hard time advising their clients otherwise.

That's understandable. It takes a certain type to place their money abroad, someone a little adventurous, I suspect, who is looking for the big score, and is prepared to accept the risk that comes with an overseas market in a different time zone, on another continent, with an unfamiliar currency, where anything from an overnight military coup (think Honduras), political instability (think Romania), or a scam (think Bre-X) can wipe out their investment while they're asleep. Definitely not something you want to wake up to.

Most Canadian investors prefer to seek out multinational corporations closer to home in Manhattan. Over the long term, America's corporates have delivered the goods with the nastiest surprise occasionally coming from a surging Canadian dollar that bites into dividends.

When overseas interest has beckoned, it generally focuses on a diversified mutual fund, heavy with European or Japanese names. South America seldom gets a look.

That changed last week when Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Coming on the heels of Brazil being awarded the 2014 FIFA World Cup of soccer, investment managers were left furiously speculating how beneficial the world's two biggest sporting events two years apart could be for the country's economy.

For the longest time, Brazil, resource-rich, and a major exporter of metals, minerals and commodities, with vast offshore oil reserves in which it is investing $150 billion, has been viewed as the country of the future. With a population of 190 million, it is now a centrist-based consumer society that is being driven by higher income levels and easier access to credit.

Bank of America-Merrill Lynch chief economist Virgilio Castro Cunha offers a rosy outlook. He estimates corporate earnings growth will jump 26 per cent next year, driven by robust domestic activity and a soft recovery on commodity and volume prices. He has raised his 2010 growth forecast to 5.3 per cent from 4.5 per cent.

The Bovespa stock index, based in Sao Paulo, the Brazilian equivalent of the S&P/TSX composite index, has about 60 listed companies and is the largest capitalized stock market in Latin America.

The index is trading at a 15-month high and is the best performing index in the world this year with a return of 67 per cent.

Factor in the strength of the currency, the real, and the return for a Canadian investor is closer to 100 per cent, so investing in Brazil may not be such a nutty idea, after all.

Brazil is the "B" in the BRIC group with Russia, India and China, considered to be the fastest growing developing economies, and there are mutual funds, such as the Templeton BRIC Corporate Class Fund, that serve this market.

"When it comes to growth and investment value, Brazil has become the BRIC's ignored fourth wheel," says Danny Furman on the investment site SeekingAlpha. com.

"Russia has ridden the oil roller coaster and most studious emerging market investors have focused on China's huge stimulus package and increased consumption as well as India's political shift. Brazil is assumed to have garnered equal attention, given the country's acronym leading position, but volume and price simply don't agree.

"Brazil's economy, from all indications, might be the best poised in the world. Bank balance sheets are relatively clean and consumption is at an all- time high in what has traditionally been an export-reliant economy. Power and water usage are up and favourable trade terms with China are apparent."

In fact, China has supplanted the U.S. as Brazil's biggest trading partner.

For Canadians, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) that trade on the New York Stock Exchange offer the most immediate hands-on investment. There are about 35 ADRs and most of them are internationally recognized names. They include steelmaker Gerdau S.A. (GGB), mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (VALE), state-controlled oil and gas company Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., better known as Petrobras (PBR), giant soft drink distributor Companhia de Bebidas das Americas, known as Ambev (ABV), Cosan, an independent ethanol producer (CZZ), Brasil Telecom (BTM) and Bombardier rival Embraer (ERJ).

The iShares Brazil Index ETF (EWZ) that tracks the Bovespa offers diversification. Units that last November dropped to a 52-week low of $26.64 US have surged to $69 US, an increase of 159 per cent.

That doesn't surprise Castro Cunha.

"Brazil is trading at a 14-per-cent discount to global equities on consensus industry-adjusted 12-month forward, price-earnings (P/E) multiples," he points out. "Higher perceived sustainable growth should encourage investors - it is trading at six-per-cent and three-per-cent discount to China and India, respectively, based on consensus-forward price-earnings (P/E) ratios."

What portion of one's portfolio should be placed outside Canada? Clearly this depends on an individual's risk tolerance, but investment firm Edward Jones recommends between 25 per cent and 35 per cent.

"In our view, global mutual funds with broad exposure to developed and emerging equity markets are a good choice since they have the flexibility to select investments that remain undervalued and to shift their holdings in response to changing opportunities," it says.

http://www.canada.com/Sport+spectaculars+could+also+draw+investors+Brazil/2086801/story.html

Pato's early goal holds up as Milan downs Fiorentina

Pato's goal seven minutes into the game was enough to lead AC Milan to a 1-0 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro on Saturday.

The win moves Milan to within six points of leaders Inter Milan and it solidifies the Rossoneri's hold on third place, while Fiorentina remains in sixth place and has lost its last two games.

Milan got out to a great start with Pato scoring his third goal in two games inside of seven minutes.

David Beckham attempted a cross from the left wing that was blocked and the ball fell to Marek Jankulovski, who slipped a pass to Pato inside the box. The young Brazilian then eluded a defender and fired off the far post and into the net to give his side an early lead.

Stevan Jovetic tried to equalize seven minutes later but he hooked a shot just wide from 20 yards before a well-struck shot from Riccardo Montolivo was parried by Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Beckham almost added to Milan's lead right before halftime when he got into the box on the right and drove a low shot towards the far post that was tipped wide by goalkeeper Marco Storari.

The second half started slowly but a nice ball from Juan Vargas found Mario Santana in front of goal midway through the half. Santana struck the ball first-time but Abbiati reacted well and got enough of the ball to keep it out.

Santana threatened the Milan net again in the 73rd minute when he fired just wide of the right post, but the Viola were unable to muster another significant threat over the final 15 minutes despite the fact that Jankulovski picked up a second yellow card in the 90th minute.

Siena moved seven points clear of the drop zone as Mario Frick scored with 15 minutes to play, handing his side a 1-0 win over second-from-the-bottom Reggina, which is winless in its last six games.

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=soc-ita/news/news.aspx?id=4204424

Soccer-Brazilian champions Sao Paulo held as season starts

Brazilian champions Sao Paulo were held to a 1-1 draw at home by modest Ituano in the Paulista championship as the 2009 season kicked off on Wednesday.

Striker Hugo gave Sao Paulo a 12th minute lead when he scored with a clinically-taken effort after the ball was laid off by Borges.

However, the visitors levelled when defender Miranda put through his own goal in the 36th minute as he tried to control the ball with his chest.

Sao Paulo, Brazilian champions for the last three years, were jeered off the field by the 11,000 crowd at the Morumbi.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo's Palmeiras made a more impressive start when they beat Santo Andre 1-0, debutant Cleiton Xavier scoring a neat goal in the 43rd minute after striker Lenny prised open the defence.

The Paulista is the largest of the regional tournaments that serve as a prelude to the Brazilian championship.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_WORLDFOOTBALL/idUKSP35180320090122

Wellington Paulista scores four goals in Botafogo's 7-0 routing of Macae in Rio

Brazil: Striker Wellington Paulista scored goals in both halves to lead Botafogo to a 7-0 rout of Macae in the Rio Cup on Sunday.

In the Sao Paulo state championship, powerhouses Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Palmeiras and Santos each won to remain in position to advance to the semifinal round.

Wellington Paulista scored the first three goals of the match within the first 21 minutes at Engenhao Stadium.

He hit a one-timer from the six-meter line in the sixth minute, added his second with a low right-footer in the 13th and his third with a shot from near the penalty spot in the 21st.

Midfielder Lucio Flavio added to Botafogo's lead by converting a penalty in the 43rd after Wellington Paulista was fouled inside the area. Macae defender Wallace was ejected.

Striker Fabio scored Botafogo's fifth goal in the 63rd, and defender Triguinho netted the sixth five minutes later.

Wellington Paulista scored his league-leading 12th goal with another right-footer from inside the area to close the scoring in the 69th.

It was Botafogo's fifth consecutive win, virtually securing the club a berth in the Rio Cup semifinals. Botafogo was runner-up to Flamengo in the Guanabara Cup, the first stage of the Rio de Janeiro state championship.

At Maracana, Fluminense defeated rival Vasco for the first time since 2005 with goals by Thiago Neves in the 23rd and Washington in the 59th. World Cup veteran striker Edmundo netted Vasco's lone goal with a penalty kick three minutes into injury time.

At least two people were injured and 20 others arrested after a fight between fans from both clubs before the match, according to local media.

On Saturday, defending Rio state champion Flamengo got past Cabofriense 2-0 at Maracana.

In the Sao Paulo state tournament, striker Dentinho scored a first-half goal to lead Corinthians to a 1-0 victory over last-place Rio Claro at Morumbi Stadium. The result moved Corinthians to fourth in the 20-team standings.

Sao Paulo remained in contention for a spot among the four clubs advancing to the semifinals by defeating Guarani 1-0 in Campinas behind a second-half goal by substitute-striker Borges. Sao Paulo, one point behind Corinthians, played without suspended striker Adriano.

Leader Guaratingueta remained atop the standings despite a 1-0 loss to defending champion Santos at home. Midfielder Marcinho Guerreiro scored for Santos, which jumped to seventh place.

On Saturday, second-place Palmeiras won its sixth in a row by beating Paulista 2-0 in Jundiai, keeping alive Palmeiras' 10-match unbeaten streak.

With three rounds to go, Palmeiras has the same 31 points as Guaratingueta, but trails on number of victories.

Third-place Ponte Preta stayed among the top four by defeating host Sertaozinho 2-0.

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=11352644